From a press release issued by FGSport Group:

World Superbikes EXCLUSIVELY LIVE on British Eurosport

Live studios throughout the season
– STARTS ON SATURDAY 26 FEBRUARY IN DOHA, QATAR –

British Eurosport’s exclusively live coverage of the Superbike World Championships gets underway in less than two weeks, on Saturday, 26 February, with the start of the new season in Doha, Qatar.

British Eurosport will be on air from 7:30 a.m. (GMT) LIVE for six hours, with a brand new studio and presenter (to be announced) covering the first two Superbike races, as well as taking a closer look at the contending teams and riders, plus the latest paddock gossip.

Race commentary will once again be led by fans’ favourite double-act of Jack Burnicle and former Superbikes star James Whitham, while MotoGP rider Jeremy McWilliams will be on hand to analyse all the action. Viewers will also have the chance to call in or email their view and interact with the studio team.

The LIVE studios will then revert back to their traditional Sunday slot when British Eurosport follows every round of the series from Philip Island, Australian on 3rd April to the last races at Magny Cours, France on 9th October 2005.

There will also be extensive highlights shows of each round for those who miss the live action – with a total of 168 hours airtime devoted to the 2005 series. Plus, results, features, and rider interviews will also be on www.eurosport.com.

Paolo Flammini, Chief Executive of FGSPORT, the rights-owning company of World Superbikes said, “2005 will be a great year for the World Superbike Championship and we’re delighted that British Eurosport will be trackside again to bring all the live action to its viewers. We have just signed a new agreement with Eurosport to broadcast Superbikes and Sport until 2009 and so look forward to continuing our relationship for the next five years”.

Pierre-Jean Sebert, Managing Director of British Eurosport said “We are excited to once again show World Superbikes and to offer UK viewers exclusively live coverage of all the 2005 races. We know that our bike programmes are popular with viewers – World Superbikes, coupled with our MotoGP coverage, reached an audience of 4.8 million last year. Our extensive motorbike and car racing offering reinforces our position as Number One in motorsport”.